I met Susan and Jordan in Boulder on historic Pearl Street. We began their engagement session with some Gelato Boy, beautiful flowers and brick-lined streets.
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Jordan shares, “We met on Hinge, and from the moment I saw Susan’s smile, I was hooked. We immediately hit it off over our playful debate about pineapple on pizza—she was all for it, and I’m still convinced it doesn’t belong, but it was one of those silly moments that set the tone for everything that followed. Our first date was at “Forget Me Not,” a cozy cocktail bar where we stayed until closing time, lost in conversation and laughter. Her sense of humor was contagious, and the way she could make even the simplest topics entertaining was an instant spark for me.
I knew Susan was the one during our first trip to Hawaii, when she was graduating with her doctorate. We spent time exploring and celebrating, but what stood out to me most was how much she cared for the people around her. Everywhere we went, I saw how she’d touched others’ lives, offering support, encouragement, and genuine kindness. It was in those moments, watching her interact with people who clearly admired and respected her, that I realized just how special she was. Her positivity, warmth, and ability to make the world a better place made me certain I wanted to spend my life with her.”
Susan continues, “Jordan and I met on Hinge. I like to poke fun at the fact that he moved very quickly to ask me on a date, but I knew that he was someone I wanted to get to know more when we spent six hours on our first date and closed down the bar. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed more! Jordan was incredibly easy to talk to and hilarious. We actually ended up seeing each other four more times over the week and went bowling and shared drinks and meals. I joke that my social battery was drained by the end of the week, but I think it says a lot that we saw each other as much as we did. I liked that Jordan was direct about making plans, and the literal definition of “if he wanted to, he would.”
I knew Jordan was the one when we moved in together about a year and a half into dating. I’ve lived alone for over half my life and am so particular about my space (Jordan will tell you my favorite store is The Container Store, if that’s any indication), but it was, and is, so fun. I love the ways that we’re in sync in the kitchen and pretend we’re on cooking shows (like shouting “Yes, Chef!”) while we make dinner together; how he always, but sometimes begrudgingly, makes coffee in the morning while I’m getting ready for work; and how he will always match the socks when doing laundry because it’s my least favorite chore. I honestly thought I’d get sick of living together two weeks in, but coming home to Jordan is the best part of my day. Now I can’t imagine a home without him in it.”
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Jordan shares the story of the proposal, “I proposed to Susan during a trip to Japan, but getting the ring there proved to be a bit of a challenge! Susan is incredibly observant, and she’s always trying to be helpful, whether it was trying to charge my devices from my backpack where I was hiding the ring or asking why I got a couple extra questions when attempting to get the ring through customs, to which she noticed and immediately asked, “What did they ask you?” This forced me to quickly come up with a lie, telling her they’d just asked where I was flying from. I could tell she was suspicious, but I managed to keep the surprise intact!
The proposal itself came on a hike through the iconic Fushimi Inari Torii Gates. I knew it was the right moment, so I had to find a way to sneak the ring out without her noticing. I distracted her with a random pond, and while she was taking it in, I got down on one knee. When she turned back around and saw me, the look on her face was priceless! We celebrated in our own way, by climbing some seriously steep stairs involved in the hike and finishing the night with a nice omakase meal. It was a funny, adventurous, and unforgettable day. The views were breathtaking, and I’ll never forget the happiness I felt in that moment.”
Susan adds, “Jordan did a great job convincing me that the proposal wasn’t going to happen in Japan, and even convinced my best friend to text me about it the night before we left on our trip to throw me off from his plan! The big moment happened when we branched off the main path to the top of Mt. Inari, and were in a quiet sub-shrine. I was about to continue on our trail when he asked me to come back and take a picture of a pond that was peaceful, but a bit overgrown. Jordan doesn’t often ask for photos, so I couldn’t resist saying yes, both to taking the photo and to his proposal!
It was just the two of us, incredibly serene, and absolutely perfect. We stopped by Kodai-ji Temple later that day, which is a temple that is said to grant a happy married life, so it felt pretty serendipitous that the engagement happened that day. Jordan also complied with my engagement “requirement” of celebrating with omakase. We had dinner at Miki, which was a random hole-in-the-wall find in Kyoto! We loved it so much that we went back the next night.”
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Planning the engagement session came naturally. Susan shares, “My vision was quintessential Colorado because it’ll always be home to us and where our story began, and what’s more quintessential than mountain views or Boulder? We’ve done some hikes in the Boulder area and often visit Pearl Street when we have guests in town. We usually stop by Gelato Boy because of our love of ice cream, and we love that we were able to incorporate that into our shoot. I also used to live in New York and just adore how the brick and storefronts give a very SoHo vibe. Jess suggested Lost Gulch for our mountain backdrop, and when we saw photos, we couldn’t say no to the breathtaking views!
For our outfits, we went with a casual look and a formal look. In our casual outfits, we wanted a playful reference back to our engagement by incorporating customized sneakers that we got in Japan from Onizuka Tiger. When we were shopping for our sneakers, it took quite some time, from waiting in long lines to finding matching pairs that had both of our sizes, but we loved that we were able to add a touch of embroidery to them to truly make them special. After many, many Amazon packages and returns to Whole Foods to find the right thing to wear, we were able to pull everything together for our outfits. I will note a hint of envy here for Jordan popping into a store and finding three shirts that fit him handsomely.
We’re so fortunate that the weather held up. I feel like I could probably be a meteorologist now with the number of weather apps I was using to track the impending rain, but we ended up (luckily) having a rain-free day with a pretty incredible sky! We really appreciated Jess’s guidance and direction throughout the day to help us feel comfortable, camera-ready, and confident!
Sushi is my go-to meal (which Jordan lovingly tolerates), and it was pretty perfect that a Japanese revolving sushi chain, Kura, just opened a Boulder location. It was a great callback to our Japan trip and engagement!”
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After our city photos we took a drive up Flagstaff Mountain to continue the engagement photography with a stunning mountain view. Lost Gulch Outlook provides sweeping views of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Susan shares, “Our big day will be September 5, 2026! We’ll be getting married at Brittany Hill by Wedgewood Weddings right outside of Denver, and we absolutely love the indoor-outdoor spaces and the beautiful backdrop of both the Flatirons and the Denver skyline!
We’re planning for a romantic, soft vibe with purples and neutrals. It’ll be a “destination wedding” for most of our guests because we’re both from out of state. It’s rare to have our whole community in one place, so we’re excited to celebrate our love with our loved ones!
We’ll also be incorporating a Chinese tea ceremony into the wedding day. It’s a way to honor the elders in our families by serving them tea, but I just love the deeply personal moment with each of the elders (parents, aunts, uncles). I’ve been envisioning my own tea ceremony for most of my life, and got to help with my sister’s when she got married last year. She’s letting me borrow some of the pieces from her tea ceremony, which includes a double-happiness (囍) sign that my dad made for her. It feels nice to be able to incorporate aspects of family into an event that is a part of my heritage and culture.”
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Their love for each other is so easy to see. Susan adds, “Jordan is an introvert, but I don’t think he realizes how much he lights up a room. He has an incredibly infectious laugh and warm smile that are magnetic and remind you to be present with your joy. I love that we can navigate serious spaces together and be super silly and engage our inner child.”
Jordan continues, “Susan is the kindest soul you’ve ever met. She’s always willing to go the extra mile (or ten) to make sure everyone feels special. She makes me feel like the most important person in the room every day of my life.”
Something interesting about the two of them is that they have been doing Wordle almost every day since the beginning of their relationship, which is at least 1,460 Wordles in the last four years!
Congratulations on your engagement, Susan and Jordan!
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